Eight Bills Pass First Reading in Nigerian Senate

In a session held on Thursday, the Nigerian Senate passed eight bills during their first reading, addressing critical areas such as health sector reform, national security, and economic recovery. Senate Leader Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, presented two bills: the Federal Teaching Hospitals Reconstitution Board Amendment Bill 2026 (HB 962), which seeks to amend the law governing the composition of the board of federal teaching hospitals, and a bill to establish the National Rice Production and Processing Research Institute in Igbemo, Ekiti State (HB 584).

Additionally, Deputy Senate President Sen. Jibrin Barau, representing Kano North, introduced two bills focused on national security enhancement (SB 1063) and economic recovery (SB 1064). Four other bills aimed at restructuring professional regulatory bodies in the health sector were also presented, including amendments to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act (SB 1000) and the Nursing and Midwifery Registration Act (SB 1001).

All eight bills have been referred to the relevant Senate committees for further legislative work.